Ray's POV

"Did you find her?" Tyson asked us worried.

"No, she's not there with her mother."

"She isn't with Kai either. " Max replied.

"I searched the visitor's lobby. She isn't there. I should have thought about it, I knew we shouldn't have left her alone again, not so soon after last time. What if somethi- "

''Shut up, Ty. Hillary will be fine. We haven't checked the cafeteria. She must have gone for lunch. It's pretty much lunch time. Come with me." he said and without waiting for a response, dragged Tyson with him. I followed them silently.

Just as Max predicted, Hillary was in the cafeteria. Max called out in excitement as he approached her. Tyson was doing a remarkable job at appearing sheepish. I smile gently.This startled her, and when she saw us, her worry lines vanished leaving a relieved smile on her.

She approached Tyson first and smacked him in the head. He ducked down, clearly hurt by her approach. Just as his shoulders were at her level, she clung onto his neck. "Idiot, I'm so sorry. I didn't want to insult you or something, Tyson. It's just that hadn't laughed in a long while and it really felt so good that I couldn't help it. I'm ashamed of my actions as I should have also thought about you guys as he's one of your best friends. I-"

"It's okay Hil. Chill out. I'm fine, these two helped me. Now, I'm starving crazy."

She laughed at him. "Yeah, now I'm hungry too. Could you bring me a plate of lasagna Ray." I head to the counter and buy the food they had preferred earlier. As I bring them their dishes, I was greeted with a thank you from each one of them and we began our lunch, or rather, brunch.

After a agonizing silence of fifteen minutes, Hillary stated, "I want to call my father."

We all look at each other, unsure what to suggest, but thankfully, it wasn't needed as she continued. "Th-That day (takes in a long breath and closes her eyes) the attacker said that he somehow cut my connection with dad. So, since he's behind bars now, I want to try calling my dad and tell my mother's condition to him, so that he could come here before she gets up."

After another gap of thirty seconds elapsed. She sighed. "I want you guys to be there with me."

"Of course we will. Have your food fast and then, we could contact him from the hospital's video-phone."

******

Hilary's POV

As Max arranged for a private video-phone, I tried to maintain a calm facade, which was getting difficult every second.

"Come'n, Hil. We've got Booth-24." Max said offering his hand.

Unable to talk, I give him a smile, though it must have looked like a grimace. Each step taken got harder than the previous one, and the anxiety was definitely making it hard to breathe. Just before I pressed the final number of his company's call center with my trembling hands, Tyson stopped me.

"Drink this, Hil." He said handing me a glass of water, not trusting my hands with the delicate glass, he slowly helped me drink the ice cold water. It surely did wonders to my irrational anxiety. It made breathing easier.

"Feeling better?"

I nod and press the last digit as he puts a hand across my shoulder and pulls me slightly close to him. I liked the warmth, so I didn't complain. "Do not mention anything about the second attack. I'll tell him the attacker told it to the police." Max and Ray left as my father hadn't met them before, whereas Tyson has been our family friend for years.

"Hello ma'am, please state your name, and the objective of this call."

"Hello, I'm Hilary Tachibana. I would like a conference with Mr Tachibana."

"Sorry Miss Tachibana, but he is on a highly confidential business trip and-"

"Please... It's an emergency. My standing is based on Section E-144."

The receptionist slightly nodded. "Please stay on line ma'am. I'll redirect your call to him in a few minutes." I nod.

The waiting felt like hours together, though it only took them six minutes.

A handsome male with black shoulder length hair tied back in a loose ponytail was on the other side of the call. With a wheat-ish completion, deep greyish-eyes and a charismatic smile, dressed in a formals sat in front of us.

"Hey beautiful! Finally started to miss papa, huh? I told you not to use the emergency codes often, darling. Hello Tyson.

"Hello Mr. Tachibana." Tyson said with a tight smile.

"Papa?" it was barely a whisper.

One word from my mouth and his expression completely changed. His face took an alarmed expression. "Beautiful, is that a hospital board behind you? Are you all right? Where's 'Tasha?" I start crying at the mentioning of my mother and he took the next clue.

"What happened to Natasha, Hil?" My father's voice sounded desperate now as he tried searching for more clues. Tyson pulled me into a hug to reduce my tremors.

"Tyson. What happened?" My father asked.

"Mr Tachibana..."

I didn't want Tyson to deliver the news. "Mom met with an accident, Pa. She's fine now. She sustained a serious head injury. She has been operated and her health is stable now but they don't know when she'll wake....(tells all details).... She met with a car accident twelve days ago. " I say not having the courage to look at his face.

"Twelve days ago! What? Why wasn't I informed Hillary..... " I was prepared for anger. But, he wasn't angry at me. His voice was quite and desperate. His voice conveyed trust on my perspective and choice making.

No longer able to hold the emotions, the hurt that was suppressed within, tears, and soon sobs, began escaping me. Just as the last time, Tyson pulled me into a hug, playing with my hair and letting my tears spoil his T-shirt.

******

Tyson's POV

Twelve days ago! What? Why wasn't I informed Hillary...." His voice was tight with emotion but it wasn't anger, for that was the trust he had that his daughter wouldn't do anything wrong. But that is all Hilary could explain as she started sobbing uncontrollably. I pull her into a hug.

If it had been any other day, hugging your crush in front of her father would have been highly awkward, but just as everything in my life has been of late, this was no ordinary circumstance.

Seeing his daughter to be in no condition of giving him any more answers. He decided to wait. "Take care of her for me Tyson. I'm in Nara. I'll be there by midnight. "

"Of course, Mr Tachibana." He gave me a tight smile and ended the call.

I pull Hillary closer to me as we settle down on a couch. Her tears had soaked my entire T-shirt but I didn't care. I just wanted to help her. Max brings her a few bars of sneakers while Ray brought her a marshmallow milkshake.

When her sobs lessened, I quietly say, "Have the snacks, it will make you feel better. We'll give you some space, meet us at Kai's room when you are ready. Okay? " she nodded. I pat her on the shoulder and leave.

We head to the room in silence. Most of the wires attached to Kai were removed, except for the glucose one. His skin now looked his normal shade of albino white. And except for the wide bandage around his chest, he could have been assumed to be asleep. Though I wouldn't as I had never seen him asleep. He had always been the first one to rise and the last one to sleep. But I suppose he looks like this. Relaxed, not having a worry of the world. An expression I hadn't thought I would ever see on Kai's face.

"What happened Ty?" Max asked.

I explain them about the conversation Hilary and her father had. Then Ray asked, "Well, when will he be co-"

Ring! Ring!

"Just a sec, Ray. I'll be back." I leave the room without waiting for an answer, find a slightly deserted area in the end of a hallway near a window and answer the call.

"Hello, who's sp-"

"At last you decided to pick the damn phone. "

"Mr Tachibana?"

"Stop this Mister business. Just because you haven't met me in the last few years doesn't make us strangers. "

I was surprised. "Um-okay, Uncle Amar."

"Better... Are you alone? Free?"

"Yes, sir."

"Not good. Where is she?"

"She was sobbing uncontrollably even after the call ended. And when she stopped, my friends brought her a few snacks to eat. We thought she would want some space so left her alone to freshen up."

"Hmm.. She didn't tell me the whole thing, did she? I want to know everything you know from wherever you think is the beginning."

"Sir, even I wasn't there when the accident took place, so I also know a few bits and pieces which I heard from a friend of hers. She herself didn't tell us anything on our own and we didn't push her. However, she did tell you everything about Mrs Ta-

"Umhh!!"

"-Aunt Tasha's hospital stay. To be frank, I think this is the first time she talked about it openly, which made her break down into uncontrollable sobs so soon. But there is a whole new part to this story... You remember the last time I came home to meet Aunt Tasha for dinner and met you before you lift for your trip?"

"Hmm."

"That was the day before the beginning of The Beyblade World Championship. Two days before the finals, she met with the accident. The stupid-forgive me but she has really pissed me off- girl didn't tell me anything about it as she didn't want me to lose focus. The idiot girl -forgive me again - didn't tell me even after three days after the finals because she thought she could manage it on her own. Then, the Talk Show who had invited us for the grand finale where one of my team mates was targeted and while trying to save him, another one was injured.

"What do you mean by injured?"

I hesitated, "A gun shot, near the heart?"

"A gunshot?! Was she there?"

"No she wasn't there when it took place I guess, because she had told she would meet us after the show, but thankfully attack also took place just before the ending. Seeing the ruckus inside she came in and helped Kai. If it wasn't for her, Kai would be dead.

Then the next day, when my friends were out for some important meeting and I was at home, she came here to see her mother. Then she thought of seeing Kai also before heading home. This saved Kai again as someone once again had tried to attack him. She saved him. The police arrested him. And then the house was attacked.

"What do you mean by attacked?"

"Broken windows, glass vases, tearing curtains, making a mess? That is what I think it was. Nothing was robbed. Was she at home when it happened? No she wasn't I guess as she must have been the whole time with her mom. It was me who saw the house in the mess it was, but we all cleaned it together, so nothing to worry about."

"Of course nothing to worry about, and what were you doing in our house when she was supposed to be alone?"

My cheeks flushed red. Reminding myself not to stammer, "It was the day after Kai was admitted to the hospital. We both hadn't slept for a long time continuously so both of us were supposed to go to our respects houses to rest. In the evening, I thought of going back to the hospital, and thought of asking her to come with me.-"

"You could have called."

"I did. She didn't answer, I also called the land-line but no one answered, so I was worried and went to check on her. Seeing the house scared the hell out of me, but then she answered my message telling me she was at the hospital itself."

"Hmm."

"Where was I.. Ah, so the attacker vaguely told her that he had cancelled the connection between you and her. So since he was caught two days ago, she thought of trying to call you today. And it worked. If you don't mind me asking, Where are you sir"

"I was in Nara, on my way back to Tokyo on an express train. I'll be home by eleven.
Thank you and your friends for being there for her, you know, both emotionally and financially."

Why hadn't I taught of it? I tell him the truth.

"But sir.... She paid the bills herself. She didn't ask for our help. To be honest, she helped us in paying Kai's bills too!!"

"Don't be silly, Tyson. I know she had a hefty amount in her bank account. The girl doesn't spend much. Usually manages her pocket money. But even she couldn't have paid for both the operations and Tasha's staying charges and Kai's bills!!"

"I'll talk to her about it , sir."
.
.
.
"Who was the friend who was targeted, then?"

"Max"

"Can you state the full names of all your team mates, Tyson?"

"Max Tate, Ray Kon, Kenny Saien, and Kai Hiwatari"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Sir?"

"You guys have had a hell of a time."

I laugh at the phrasing. "That must be the understatement of the year as I told you nothing about before the tournament."

"So, my daughter was in danger, was exposed to danger, just because she hung around with you guys. I don't think this was a one time occurance either. Think about what you'll do about it. Answer me soon."

"What? How-" but before I could complete my question, the line went dead.

All the time, I couldn't get those words out of my head. My daughter was in danger, was exposed to danger because she hung around with you guys. I don't think this was a one time occurance either. Think about what you'll do about it. Answer me soon.

......because she hung around with you guys......wasn't a one time occurrence....what you'll do about it. Answer me. "

"Who was it, Ty?" Max asked.

In a dismissive tone, "Uncle Amar."

"Who?"

"Oh! It was Hillary's father."

Seeing their shared look, I answered the unspoken question. "Our families knew each other quite well few years ago. So he requested me call him by the same name. He wanted to know whether Hillary had skipped any part because it was scary. I told him about our side of the story except for Hillary's forbidden part, of course."

"Oh..."

"What's wrong, Tyson?"

"Nothing's wrong, Ray..."

"You just answered all our questions to the point, nothing extra-nothing less, so tell us."

Without an introduction, I start my rant. "Why hadn't I thought about it that way? The first time she was kidnapped, was to draw me to that abandoned harbour. Then, she had been kidnapped with the rest of us to that wrenched island just because she was in the same bus.

She has been repeatedly dragged into our mess just because she was with us. Was the accident too somewhere related to us? Then, I'm exposing not just her, but their entire family, my only family, to danger. It surely isn't worth our friendship. Certainly not my feelings are worth the risk of danger that looks to be with us all the time.

Was she thinking on the same lines when she told she wanted to part ways with us? I surely shouldn't risk her safety just because I love her. And she must have taught about it for her parents' safety. It's not like she wants attention or something she hates media and is quite popular being the National Swimming Champion. She wanted to know how the game works, she has learnt it. She no longer thinks of it as 'a stupid game of turning tops' and that's enough I guess..... She surely is better off without us."

"Stop thinking that way Ty!! What made you think about it so much?"

"What we're you telling about parting ways, Tyson?" Ray asked me, catching the lie I had told not three hours ago.

"Shit. Hillary will have my head now. Guys please, Hillary will be here any moment. I'll talk about this when we are alone, maybe at the dojo. You were asking about something else before I went out? What was it? "

Un-narrowing his eyes at me, he sighed. "When will he be here? "

"He said he'll be back by eleven."

And as we fell silent, Hillary came in.

******

Words: 2892

******

A/N: THREE months, FIFTEEN chapters , NINETY-FIVE PLUS votes and a THOUSAND views!! I'm seriously on cloud nine...

But seriously, I'm so so happy!!! Thank you guys... I really appreciate it. Do continue voting and commenting (+/-) !!!!!

I guess I'll be posting every Monday from now as my pre-boards are over!! Happy Reading!!

And one more thing, would you prefer the updates to be every Monday or as soon as I complete the chapter? Will you guys be active enough on wattpad to see the chapter within a day of its posting? Because I would love to see all your votes and read all your comments as soon as possible. I had to try so hard to not post it then and there in excitement and thought of asking you guys in advance.